Patents by Inventor Robert A. McLaughlin
Robert A. McLaughlin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11756428Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for resource transportation comprises a routing command subsystem. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is configured to be communicably coupled to a first input device at a first location, the first input device configured to determine a first resource factor of a resource at the first location and a location input device associated with a transporter, the transporter configured to transport the resource, the location input device configured to determine a transporter location. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is further configured to change a first endpoint of a transporter route to a first alternate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Vorto Technologies, LLCInventors: Priyesh Ranjan, Samuel Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230277154Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system configured to assess a blood flow rate through a target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture ultrasound image of the target vessel and a doppler array configured to detect the fluid flow through a region of interest of the target vessel. Logic operations of a console of the system and methods include determining a region of interest of the ultrasound image, calculating a percentage of the blood vessel occupied by the vascular access device, utilizing a data training set to predict a blood flow rate after placement of the vascular access device based on a blood flow rate prior to placement of the vascular device, and utilizing a data training set to predict a blood flow rate downstream of the vascular access device based on a blood flow rate upstream of the vascular device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Publication number: 20230277153Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system configured to assess the impact of placement of a vascular access device on fluid flow through a target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture one or more ultrasound images of the target vessel and a Doppler array configured to detect the fluid flow through a region of interest of the target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console in communication with each of the ultrasound array and the Doppler array, the console configured to determine the region of interest of the target vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Publication number: 20230251150Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system can include a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, Shayne Messerly, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230248444Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: Bard Access Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230243715Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes one or more core fibers each including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) alter the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, identifying at least one unexpected spectral width or a lack of an expected spectral width, and determining the damage has occurred to the optical fiber based on the identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230194795Abstract: An optical connector cleaning device configured to couple with and perform an optical cleaning and a disinfection of an optical connector of a medical device. The cleaning device includes a holding section and a cleaning section extending away from the holding section, the cleaning section extendable through a sterile barrier. A cleaning ribbon and a disinfecting ribbon, having a disinfectant absorbed therein, extend across a tip of the cleaning device so as to be sandwiched between the tip and the optical connector. An optical assessment system of the device evaluates optical transmission of the optical connector. Manipulation of actuators causes sliding displacement of the cleaning ribbon and the disinfecting ribbon across a tip of the cleaning device. Replaceable cartridges store unused and used portions of the cleaning ribbon and a disinfecting ribbon.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230148872Abstract: A medical system that includes a temperature scanning device configured to identify and locate blood vessels by obtaining a thermal image from a skin surface where blood flowing within blood vessels beneath the skin surface has been altered to define temperature variations of the skin. The system includes a console configured to communicate with the temperature scanning device, the console including processors and logic that, when executed by the processors, causes operations including defining the thermal image. The system may further include a camera, and/or an ultrasound probe. The thermal image may be portrayed on various forms of a display include augmented reality glasses. The thermal image may be overlayed onto a camera image and/or an ultrasound image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Publication number: 20230148993Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system includes an ultrasound probe and a console. The ultrasound probe includes (i) an array of ultrasonic transducers, activated ultrasonic transducers of the array of ultrasonic transducers configured to emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals of the ultrasound signals for processing into an ultrasound image, and (ii) a secondary data collection module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Publication number: 20230147164Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound probe having an array of ultrasonic transducers configured to emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals of the ultrasound signals for processing into ultrasound images. The system includes a console having a processor to execute logic that, when executed, causes operations including capturing first and second ultrasound images of a target insertion area of a patient at a first time, generating and causing rendering of a notification indicating results of a comparison of the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image. The operations can also include determining, via a machine learning model, whether the second ultrasound image corresponds to the second ultrasound image by at least a threshold amount, and providing a visual indication of a result of applying the trained machine learning model.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Publication number: 20230138970Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system includes an ultrasound probe coupled with a console. Operations of the system can include detecting one or more blood vessels within the ultrasound image and identifying each blood vessel as a vein, an artery or other anatomic element using doppler ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe. Operations can also include determining a confidence for the blood vessel identification, and defining a window for doppler ultrasound operation. Operations can further include assessing a blood flow rate within blood vessels, and superimposing notifications atop the ultrasound image pertaining to the identity of the blood vessel including a confidence for the identity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230135562Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system can include an ultrasound probe, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe includes an array of ultrasonic transducers that, when activated, emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals for processing into ultrasound images. Operations of the system can include detecting one or more black holes within the ultrasound image and identifying each black hole as a vein, an artery or other anatomic element using doppler ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe. Operations can also include defining a window for doppler ultrasound operation, and assessing a blood flow rate within blood vessels. Operations can also include rendering notifications atop the ultrasound image pertaining to the identity of the black hole without obstructing the image of black hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230132148Abstract: Dynamically adjusting ultrasound-imaging systems include an ultrasound probe, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe includes an array of ultrasonic transducers that, when activated, emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals for processing into ultrasound images. The console is configured to execute instructions for defining an orientation of an image plane with respect to a blood vessel based on a shape a blood image and further with respect to a direction of blood flow within the blood vessel via doppler ultrasound. The orientation of image plane may be defined by a comparison of an ultrasound image with corresponding ultrasound images stored in memory. The system may automatically reorient the image plane to align with the blood vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230126813Abstract: A system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, the system including a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers. Each of the one or more core fibers can include a plurality of sensors each configured to reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system can further include logic configured to determine a 3D shape of the medical device in accordance with the strain of the optical fiber. The logic can be configured to define a reference plane for the 3D shape and render an image of the 3D shape on a display of the system in accordance with the reference plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230121370Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system that includes an ultrasound imaging probe having a first optical fiber integrated therein and a console optically coupled with the ultrasound imaging probe via a first elongate member. The console includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic, that when executed by the one or more processors, causes operations that can include providing an incident light signal to the first optical fiber via the first elongate member, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the incident light from the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, processing the reflected light signals to determine a first three-dimensional (3D) shape extending along a length including at least portions of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and causing rendering of an image of the first 3D shape on a display of the medical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
-
Patent number: 11630009Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system also includes a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, Shayne Messerly, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Patent number: 11622816Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Patent number: 11623361Abstract: Automated fiber placement (AFP) cutter blade assemblies, AFP cutter systems including the same, and associated methods. An AFP cutter blade assembly includes a blade base and a reversible blade insert configured to be coupled to the blade base in either of a first cutter blade configuration, in which a first cutting edge is an active cutting edge, and a second cutter blade configuration, in which a second cutting edge is the active cutting edge. In examples, an AFP cutter system includes a plurality of AFP cutter blade assemblies in combination with an actuator assembly. In examples, a method of reconfiguring a reversible blade insert of an AFP cutter blade assembly includes uncoupling the reversible blade insert from a blade base, rotating the reversible blade insert relative to the blade base, and operatively coupling the reversible blade insert to the blade base in a different configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Corydon D. Hilton, William D. Lindenberg, Bryan Robert McLaughlin, Derek Scott McCann
-
Patent number: 11624677Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes one or more core fibers each including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) alter the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, identifying at least one unexpected spectral width or a lack of an expected spectral width, and determining the damage has occurred to the optical fiber based on the identification.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
-
Publication number: 20230101030Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, where the system includes a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers. Each of the one or more core fibers includes a plurality of sensors that can be configured to reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system further includes logic that can be configured to determine a 3D shape of the medical device in accordance with the strain of the optical fiber. The logic can further be configured to (i) define a reference frame for the 3D shape, and (ii) render an image of the 3D shape on a display of the system in accordance with the reference frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin